As is the case with seemingly anything that connects to the internet these days, a security researcher has found that GPS devices which connect to the Globalstar satellite network are vulnerable to man-in-the-middle hacking. According to Synack Inc researcher Colby Moore, who is presenting his findings next week at BlackHat, transmissions within this system are not encrypted. This means they can be intercepted and altered between the sender and recipient -- not good when you're trying to find survivors after a natural disaster. What's more, Moore states that the flaw is a fault in the system's architecture and one that is nearly impossible to patch.

What little hope Uber had of buying Nokia's Here mapping service just went out the window. A Wall Street Journal source claims that Audi, BMW and Daimler have tentatively agreed to buy Here for the equivalent of $2.7 billion. A final agreement could be ready within the "next few days," the tipster says. The German automakers won't hoard the navigation technology all to themselves, though. Instead, they'll reportedly give other vehicle brands a chance to claim their own stake and democratize the platform. While Here already has a presence in about 80 percent of the industry, this would make it a true mainstay for in-car mapping -- companies wouldn't have much incentive to license map data from the likes of Google or TomTom.

There may never be a wearable equivalent of the iPhone -- a must-have gadget that sparks a fundamental change in how we live. Instead, the future of wearables is all about niche products that may be right for some, but won't necessarily be everyone's cup of tea. That's my main takeaway after spending a few weeks with Garmin's Vivoactive ($250), which is yet another one of its wearable gadgets for people who make working out a way of life. Honestly, though, it's a thought I've had percolating for a while now, especially after Jawbone's disappointing Up3. The Vivoactive isn't a great smartwatch or activity tracker for most people, but for someone who demands a GPS-enabled wearable for tracking their runs, swims and just about anything involving movement, it might be ideal. Slideshow-306049

GPS was declared fully operational two decades ago, and what better way to celebrate your 20th birthday than with a rockin' party satellite launch. The US Air Force's Space Command (probably) toasted with military-grade champagne after firing a shiny new GPS satellite into orbit on an Atlas V rocket from Florida. GPS IIF-10 is the seventieth piece of navigation hardware that's been sent into space as part of the program that's been running sine 1978 and has been available for everyone to use since 1995.

Six months. That's apparently how long it takes to buy a company, retool their product, and sell it under a new name. Garmin's new Varia Rearview Bike Radar is a rear light that scans up to 140m behind a bicycle for traffic. It then hands that data on to either a compatible Garmin Edge system or a standalone handlebar-mounted unit with an array of lights to warn riders of what's behind them and how fast it's approaching. If you're a keen cyclist, this idea may sound a little familiar. Startup iKubu made a little splash last year with Backtracker, which was essentially the same thing but a little rougher around the edges. Garmin bought the company back in January, and apparently wasted no time turning the Backtracker into what you see above.

One downside of reinventing an industry is that you can sometimes forget that the red tape you're bravely circumventing was put in place for a reason. It's a lesson that Lyft has learned the hard way after being fined $300,000 by New York for operating a taxi service without the proper insurance. As far as Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is concerned, ride-sharing outfits are welcome in his state, but only if they're making sure they obey the rules and ensure that their customers are safe.

Uber's poached plenty of robotics experts from Carnegie Mellon and now we know who it's snagged to lead that team to produce something worthwhile. According to Re/code, Uber's new Advanced Technologies Center will be led by former Google VP Brian McClendon, a 10-year veteran of the company. The name may not ring a bell, but McClendon is most famous for co-founding the startup that eventually became Google Earth before making Google Maps what it is today.

Jaguar Land Rover has revealed that it's working on technology that'll alert the authorities whenever your car finds a bump in the road. It's one of several high-tech initiatives the outfit has been working on, including heads-up displays in the windshield and "transparent" cars. Once an issue, like a pothole or broken drain, has been discovered, its location will be uploaded to the authorities who can then send a maintenance crew to come fix it. In the meantime, the information can be shared with nearby vehicles so that motorists in the vicinity can avoid damaging their car.

Philips believes that the days of endlessly roaming around a store looking for the right kind of balsamic vinegar may soon be at an end. The company's lighting division has developed an indoor navigation system that enables your smartphone to direct you straight towards the Oils & Vinegars (Specialist) section. In addition, the technology helps to light everything up nice and bright, and save a bucketload of cash in the process.

Sure, it's not hard to learn when your bus is likely to show up, but have you wondered where everyone else's bus is at any given moment? You now have an easy way to find out. GeOps and the University of Freiburg have rolled out TRAVIC (Transit Visualization Client), a map that shows the real-time positions of buses and trains from more than 200 public transportation systems around the globe. Some of this info is based on schedule estimates, but it's still quite hypnotic -- you can see when subway cars pass by Times Square (hint: often), or how long it takes a bus to arrive at Barcelona's beach. While this tool probably won't be very useful for planning your own trips, it'll definitely remind you just how much effort goes into getting you across the urban landscape.

Apple has snapped up more than a few companies that know how to deal with your location data, but it now appears to be focused on improving the accuracy of that data from the get-go. MacRumors has discovered evidence that Apple recently acquired Coherent Navigation, a company specializing in very accurate GPS. It combined the usual GPS positioning with information from Iridium's low-orbit communication satellites to pinpoint your whereabouts within inches, rather than feet.

There have been more than a few efforts at smart luggage, but this is one you're likely going to notice. Samsung and Samsonite (appropriately enough) are teaming up to develop smart bags that will likely be easier to buy and more accessible. They should include include loads of location and mobile notification features, such as GPS tracking, anti-tampering alerts and warnings when you wander away. However, that's just the start. Samsonite is working with airlines on baggage that checks itself in -- drop them off and they'd tell the airport about your airline, the weight and your destination. Also, Samsung is experimenting with self-propelled luggage that follows you around the airport. That last technology is still too cumbersome to be practical (the engine takes up a third of the size), but the days of having to lug (and worry about) your belongings across the airport may soon be over.

When your location marker on Google Maps is pinging all over the place, it's usually due to temperamental GPS signal. DARPA thinks this isn't cutting it anymore, and is developing a "radically" new tech that will offer real-time position tracking -- something that'll work despite blind spots or jamming efforts. DARPA expects this will offer a huge boon to the US Military over, well, everyone else. Beyond war, the new location tech will be good for some much more, and will be far more flexible than GPS. Just like how we now use that once-military network for navigation and location services, new tech is very likely drip down to muggles like us too.

Confession time: I'm a bit of a wannabe when it comes to self-quantification. The idea of counting every step I take, every calorie I eat, every day I don't have a cigarette and every minute I lie in bed restlessly tossing and turning sounds great. I want to be able to look at my life as a series of easy-to-understand numbers that I can act upon to improve myself. And everytime I review a new wearable or fitness tracker I think, "This'll be the one to make it stick." The latest in the long line of would-be life-changers is the $250 Fitbit Surge. The combination of GPS running watch, step counter and sleep tracker appeals not only to the number nerd in me, but also to the semi-serious runner as well. It also appeals to the "someone trying to cut down on the clutter in their life" part of me. Why do I need a separate pedometer, GPS running watch and a regular watch? But the big question is: Can the Surge lock me into not just an ecosystem, but also a system of life-tracking and life-changing habits?Slideshow-271259

It takes a special patent to pique our interest these days, but Google has just been issued actual intellectual property for a device that would help others evade your stank. The "odor removing device" (below) is designed to "emit a fragrance in response to detected parameters," but that's not the half of it. It would also detect your body temperature, heartrate and other factors to determine if you're extra rank from working out. Not only will it then dispense perfume to cover it, it'll even track the location of your friends and find you a route home to avoid them.

We love a bit of "Choose your own adventure" action, and if a recent Twitter game is anything to go by, so do many of you. The problem with most formats is that they're, well, embedded in a book, or behind a screen. What if you could straddle your Harley, twist the throttle, and go on a real-life adventure? With TomTom's new RIDER bike-centric sat nav, you can. It's actually more about spicing-up an otherwise boring A to B route, than solving TheMystery of Chimney Rock. Or, as TomTom puts it: "bikers can choose the level of twists and turns they want to ride to create their own adrenaline-filled adventure." It does all that other sat nav stuff, too (audio navigation, glove friendly screen, route planning) of course. But hey, now that you can finally afford that Enfield, it's time to soak up whatever those Delaware back roads can throw atcha, right? Adventurers will have to wait until April though, when the RIDER becomes available for an as-yet unspecified price.

After a brief wait, Epson's first batch of fitness trackers is reaching the US. To get things started, it's launching a new golf swing analyzer (the not so elegantly titled M-Tracer MT500GTII, below) that attaches to your club's grip and sends real-time feedback to your phone, ranging from the swing path to the ball impact. It'll arrive in stores in March for $299. The company's Runsense GPS watches are coming along for the ride, although you won't have the option of the basic SF-310 that launched in the UK. Instead, you'll have to consider the stride-tracking SF-510, altitude-aware SF-710 and heart rate monitor-equipped SF-810 (above) when the lineup ships sometime in the second quarter of the year. With prices between $250 and $350, they're squarely in competition with watches from the likes of Garmin and TomTom -- you'll want to comparison shop before you commit to buying sport-minded wristwear.

You let the dog out into the garden while you pop back inside to get something. Next thing you know, she's gone. You knew you should have fixed up that gap in the fence. Too bad, huh? With Tagg, no longer would you have the anxiety of losing a pet. This "wearable" for pets claims to be able to locate your pooch (or cat) in almost all of America. How so? Well, there's GPS and connectivity through Verizon. That's how. So, as long as your mutt doesn't stray out of coverage, you'll be able to pinpoint his or her location. But Tagg's not just a one-trick pony/dog/cat. It's partnered with Alarm.com (makers of a full suite of smart home equipment) to add a bunch more functionality, or what the two companies are calling "smart pet tracking." Slideshow-256271

If bike thievery is an issue in your town, you can ride and rest easy with the Connected Cycle pedal. It has GPRS and GPS built-in to phone home your bike's location whenever it moves, so it can track your fitness, and send a push notification if someone suddenly jumps on your bike. The pedal is a little bulky for cyclists who pride themselves on lightweight bikes, but on the other hand, it never needs charging or a new battery. It charges from the energy of riding, and the team says a one-hour ride is enough to keep it powered for up to a couple of weeks. They've been working on the tech for two years, and plan to release it in a variety of colors with two years of service, for an as-yet unspecified price. In a demo on the show floor everything worked smoothly, with the app easily tracking activity or location. And hey, even if a thief does make off with your bike, you'll have the data to show you still rode a faster split than they did. Slideshow-256242

If you've been looking for a big-name alternative to Google Maps on your Android phone, your moment has come. After weeks of testing, Nokia has officially released Here Maps on Google Play. The experience will be familiar if you sideloaded earlier versions. While it's not as multi-talented as Google Maps, its simple interface specializes in navigation (especially driving) and offline mapping -- this may be ideal for trips abroad where cellular data isn't guaranteed. The biggest additions with the Google Play edition are support for 18 new countries and some bug fixes.

Google's augmented reality exploration game, Ingress, has had a pretty eventful 2014, including an iOS release back in July and the addition of user-created missions a few months later. Now, developer Niantic Labs is closing out the year by getting in the holiday spirit. In a recent blog post, the Ingress team announced its #MissionsForGood campaign, aiming to entice players on both sides of the augmented reality conflict to give back to their respective communities during the holidays. Using the recently added user-created missions feature, verified agents (level 8 and higher) can designate portals at or near local charities and add the #MissionsForGood hashtag in mission titles. The team also added a unique medal for the campaign.

So long as you still need physical ID cards and cash, you'll need something to carry them -- but that doesn't mean that you're stuck with a low-tech purse or wallet. StreetSmart is crowdfunding the SmartWallet, a money holder with both a Bluetooth-connected GPS locator and a 1,000mAh battery to charge your phone. It's not nearly as world-changing as the company's (rather hyperbolic) promo video suggests, but it's potentially handy if you tend to forget your cash or phone when you head out the door. Leave the wallet behind and you'll get a heads-up through an Android or iOS app that will help you find it, including directions within 50 to 150 feet; lose your phone and a button on the wallet will make your mobile device ring.

GPS is super useful when you're trying to navigate unfamiliar areas in cars and on foot, but for ships, it's an outright lifeline. Many vital systems, especially on large commercial vessels, rely almost entirely on GPS data, meaning it's a pretty huge deal when satellite connection is lost. GPS is far from infallible, and signals can be jammed by equipment and even solar storms, which is why the UK has begun rolling out a fallback positioning network that uses technology first implemented by the US Navy during WWII. The once-popular Loran positioning system was essentially superseded by GPS, but in a twist to the tale, the UK is using an improved version, known as eLoran, to ensure ships aren't completely reliant on satellite signals. Trials started at the beginning of last year, and the first seven eLoran stations are now live along the East coast of Great Britain, with all the UK's major ports expected to be covered by 2019.

Android Wear, Google's four-month-old wearables platform, is off to a good start. But like all nascent systems, there are still plenty of areas that need some TLC. It's got a lot of features and developer support, but it's practically useless if you want to use your smartwatch as a fitness tracker and leave your phone at home. Over the next few days, Google will push a new update to the LG G Watch, Moto 360 and Samsung Gear Live that will make your smart timepiece more useful when it's not tethered to your handset.

Losing your luggage is no fun, but while companies like Trakdot have been selling trackers for some time, a startup is taking to Indiegogo to create what it calls the "world's first smart, connected carry-on." Bluesmart is a small suitcase with a host of features that its makers believe frequent travelers can't live without. Priced at $235 (or as low as $195 for early adopters), it'll include proximity tracking to alert you if you walk away from your luggage, a TSA-approved lock that's controlled by your smartphone and a built-in battery to charge your gadgets. There's also a scale integrated into the handle that'll tell you how much your bag weighs just by lifting it off the ground, and a quick-access compartment for storing your laptop.